Choice of Inorganic Materials as 68Ge/68Ga Generator: An Intercomparison

Adsorption properties of some inorganic oxide adsorbers were studied with varying pH conditions of HCl and HNO3 for Ge and Ga as a trial for a 68Ga generator system with their stable isotopes. Adsorption properties were also studied with varying particle size of SiO2. Titanium oxide at its various oxidation states as well as morphological forms was also studied for similar adsorption properties. It was observed that zeolite, a microporous aluminosilicate could offer a favourable condition for use as 68Ge/68Ga generator system at pH 1 with HCl. It was also concluded that the TiO2 powder (Degussa, P-25), which contains anatase and rutile phases in a ratio of about 3:1 can be best utilized for separation of Ga from Ge at pH 1 with HCl. This titania is a mixture of anatase and rutile particles of TiO2 that separately form their agglomerates. Individual studies with rutile and anatase TiO2 failed to show such effectiveness to be utilized as the above generator system.